WIXO

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WIXO
City of license Peoria, Illinois
Broadcast area Peoria, Illinois
Branding 105.7 The X
Slogan 105.7 The X Rocks
Frequency 105.7 MHz
First air date 1970s (original 105.7)
1996 (original WIXO on 99.9)
Format Active rock
Audience share 8.3 (age 12+ for 6am-midnight) (Spring 2007, [1])
ERP 32000 watts
HAAT 169.3 meters (555 ft)
Class B
Facility ID 9894
Transmitter Coordinates 40°43′25.0″N 89°29′4.0″W / 40.723611, -89.484444 (NAD83)
Former callsigns WXMP (2003–2006)
WWCT (?–1984, 1984–2003)
WOTF (March 1984?)
Owner Regent Communications
(Regent Broadcasting of Peoria, Inc.)
Sister stations WFYR · WGLO · WVEL · WZPW
Webcast [2]
Website [3]

WIXO (105.7 The X) is an FM radio station on 105.7 MHz in Peoria, Illinois. It is owned by Regent Broadcasting, which also owns several other radio stations in the market. Originally on 99.9 MHz before 2006, it moved to 105.7, a much higher-power license that reaches a large portion of Central Illinois.

The name is based on several factors, one being the frequency (105.7) and the other being the fact that it recently relocated from 99.9 having been under the name 99X, and the "X" in the name had become an inherent part of the station. The "X" in the previous name had come from the call letters WIXO. The station features the active rock music format. Also, on the original frequency, the slogan 99X Rocks! had been used and appeared on the station logo, and the phrase became commonly used as the station name. Thus, the new frequency uses the phrase "105.7 The X Rocks!", which can also be seen on the new logo.

Contents

[edit] 105.7 before WIXO

[edit] WWTO & WWCT

Main article: WWCT

The original 105.7 was operating as WWTO in the early 1970s.[1] In 1976, the station changed its callsign to WWCT and made its debut as an album rock station. Calling itself simply "106" or "WWCT" early on, by the 1990s it was using the nickname "Rock 106". Owned locally until the 1990s, the station was then sold to AAA Entertainment. AAA gave the station the new nickname "Rock 105.7", then "Rock 96.5" when it moved the format to the Farmington, Illinois frequency.

[edit] WXMP

AAA replaced WWCT with "Mix 105.7" and the callsign WXMP, and marketed the station as a Bloomington-Normal station for some time despite the station being licensed to Peoria.

AAA Entertainment exited the Peoria market in September 2006 during a shakeup in Peoria radio ownership, selling 101.1 at Glasford, Illinois to Independence Media Holdings, who moved the WXMP callsign and format there, and selling 105.7 was to Regent Communications, owners of 99.9 WIXO at Bartonville, Illinois.

[edit] WIXO

Old 99X Logo
Old 99X Logo

WIXO started as the first station on the 99.9 frequency for Bartonville, Illinois, and used the name 99X. It also featured the active rock music format, as well as the same schedule and jocks that it does now. In fact, the only difference between it then and now is the name, frequency, and bits in between songs where the announcer states things about the station and upcoming events the station is sponsoring or taking part of. As of 2007, the old phone numbers are still being used. At the old frequency, the station could be heard in a small area Peoria, Illinois. With the move, it can now be heard in an area around three times larger than it originally could.

In the wake of the WIXO move to 105.7, WWCT, which was originally at 105.7 itself, moved from 96.5 to 99.9.

[edit] Jocks

  • Matt Bahan
  • Kev the Flyin' Hawaiian
  • Anna Kinkade
  • Sabrina

[edit] Radio Data System (RDS)

WIXO uses the Radio Data System (RDS), which will show the following information on radios capable of receiving RDS information.

  • Program Service (PS): 1057theX
  • Dynamic Program Service (DPS): ARTIST | Title
  • Radio Text (RT): Now Playing Title by ARTIST

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ "WWTO(FM) 105.7 Peoria, Illinois" by Doug Quick. Retrieved 2006-11-19.

[edit] External links